Steam-trap.



G. N. GRAHAM.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLIOATION FILED MAYQ, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

GEORGE N. GRAHAM, 0F NEl/V YORK, N. Y.

STEAM-TRAP.

Application filed May 9. 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

flatentcd Sept. 23, 1.913.

Serial No. 696,252.

1 '0 all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Geonon N. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprcwements in Steam- Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam traps, and belongs to the class of such devices each of which includes, among other parts, a weightcarrying member and float-operated means constructed and arranged to actuate the weight-carrying member in such manner that the weight is alternately thrown on opposite sides of the perpendicular. for the purpose of quickly opening and quickly closing an operatively connected valve, to prevent wire-drzuving of the steam and water, and to insure the positive, full opening and closing of the valve each time the weight is thrown.

The object of this invention is the production of a steam trap comprising parts of special construction and arrangement whereby it is believed the certainty, completeness and promptncss of operation are materially increased under ordinary working conditions, beyond what is met with in apparatus for like purpose commonly employed.

The preferred construction of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of Which Figure 1 represents a vertical section lengthwise of the casing, all parts being assembled. Fig. 2 is an end view, the dished member of the casing having been removed to disclose internal parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section, somewhat. enlarged, showing the movable seat for the float, and the toggle or knuckle joints connected therewith. Fig. 4 is a like section to Fig. 3 taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of that section. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the lower end of the dished member of the easing, and Fig. 6 is an inside view of the same end of that member, both views showing the pocket bearings for the rocking shaft. Fig. 7 is a view of the Valve seat cup detached, and looking into the open end thereof. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section, somewhat enlarged, of the valve rod bracket, showing also in section the valve seat cup and the cage to which those parts are attached. Fig. 9 shows the right hand end of the cage as illustrated in Fig. Si Fig. 10 is a crosssection of the removable cage. The section shown in Fig. l is taken on the indirect line l---1 of Fig. The section shown in Fig. l is taken on broken line 22 of Fig. 3. The section of the detached parts shown in Fig. 8 is taken on line :r a; of Fig. 1, and the cross-section shown in big. 10 is taken on line 3-4-3 at Fig. 8.

In .the description and throughout the drawings, the same character is used to refer to the same part.

Considering the drawings, the main portion of the casing is marked A. It has a complemcntary dished portion a which is removable. The casing A has an internally projecting part I), and a base 7). The interiorly projecting part B is hollow, forming a chamber D, having an open end closed by a removable h ad (Z. The head is cl amped in place by the nut E on the removable stem e threaded as shown in Fig. l. to engage the nut. The stem (2 is removably attached to a cage F, having openings f into the chamber D. The outlets G and g lead from the chamber l). as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The val ve seat cup I-l, having the valve. seat It, is threaded into the base of the cage at one side of the center, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The. needle valve J occupies the seat, and, a fin collar or :lealhercd sleeve i is placed. on valve rod K near the valve J to support and guide the rod in the hollow of cup H. The other or outer end of rod K is supported by the bracket 70 attached to the base of cage F and removable with the cage.

Upon the valve rod K are two fixed collars L and Z, between which are arranged the lugs M li'orming part of the longer member N oi a li'nuckle joint. of which the upper and shorter member is marked a. The kni'lckle member a is pivotally set-.ured to the float. seat pan 0. to which is also pivotally secured the smaller member 7) of a second knuckle joint similar to that already mentioned and of which the longer member is marked P. A shaft Q, transversely arrz'rngcd with respect to the valve rod K. and a short distance. above it. as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is provided with a squared portion It. to be again referred to. More fully explained, considering Figs. 3 and t, the knuckle or toggle joint comprises the single arm N engaging the squared portion R of the shaft Q, and, therefore, compelled to move with the shaft, and the two short arms or links or arranged to connect the sin iii gle arm N pivotally with the lugs of the float seator pan 0. The remaining parts of the toggle joint comprise the arms P having the same length as the arm N, but movably engaging the cylindrical end portions of the shaft Q. The arms P are pivotally connected at their upper ends with the float seat by the link 79 of the same length and construction as the members or links at already mentioned.

Pocket bearings S and s, as best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 are formed at the sides of the interior of the dished member a of the casing of this invention. It is thought to be apparent that the shaft may be lifted from the bearings when the member a of the casing is taken ofl.

The float element of this invention shown is marked T and is arranged above the seat pan 0, upon which it may rest as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The float is provided with a stem 25 extending downwardly and passing through a central orifice U in pan Q, and having the terminal nut u on its lower end.

The remaining parts of this invention are best described in connection with the explanation of the mode of its operation. It will be observed in Fig. 4 that the member N of the knuckle joint first mentioned herein has its hub located at the middle of the squared portion R of shaft Q, and that the Q-shaped rod V, has a' fork Q) at its lower end the prongs of which engage the squared portion it on both sides of the hub of the member N. The members P of the second knuckle joint are in pivotal connection with the 1 round portion of shaft Q, therefore, as the float rises the toggle joint is elongated, the shaft Q is turned, and, by reason of the attachment of the fork 'v to the shaft as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the rod V is actuated correspondingly. The float may rise from its position in Fig. 1, as the casing fills with water of condensation, for a little distance and until the nut u on the lower end of stem t of the float encounters the bottom of pan 0. Thereafter, further rising of float T draws on the member N, turning shaft Q and moving the C-shaped rod V until the weight W on the upper and threaded end w of rod V, passes over the perpendicular and falls into the position indicated by the broken lines. The lugs M are thrown abruptly against fixed collar L on rod K and the valve is instantly and fully opened in the usual way. The falling float, as the casing is discharged, soon rests its weight on pan 0 and causes a reversal of the move ment of the weight and rod, restoring them to the positions shown in Fig. 1.

The weight is adjustably secured on the threaded end w of rod V by means of the nuts Y and y. It will be noted that the body of the rod V is vertical, and that the portion w thereof is horizontal and is arranged to move above the float. The weight WV is adjustably securedupon the horizontal portion of the rod and during the operation moves back and forthacross a perpendicular passing through the float. During the operation, the shaft Q is retained in the pocket bearings S and s for the reason that the openings of those bearings rest against suitable lugs 4L and 5 on the interior of the main portion A of the casing.

It is believed to be an advantageous feat-ure of this invention, that the internal parts may be easily removed for shipment or repairs. For example, upon the removal of the dished member a of the casing, the weight and its rod, together with the float, pan 0, knuckle joints and shaft Q may be lifted out as one piece and replaced likewise. By removing'nut E, head d may be detached, and the valve seat It becomes ac cessible through openings f of cage F. If desired, the cage, valve, valve rod and bracket is may all be drawn out through chamber D as one piece, by turning the cage on its axis contrary to'watch hands, thereby disengaging spiral groove 6 in the sur face of the cage, and pin 7 in base' b, as shown in Fig. 1. It will benoted that the action of screwing up nut E on stem 6 to clamp head (Z, so far as such actionexe'rts any turning effect upon the stem 6, tends V to turn the stem and cage Fwiththe hands of a watch, and to tighten the engage ment of the spiral groove 6 and pin 7.

Having now described this invention, and

explained the mode of its operation, what I claim is 1. In a steam trap, the combination withla said head upon the open end of thechamber, the inner wall of said chamber being apertured to receive the end of said cage, means constructed to removablysecure said end of the cage, the cage being removable through said chamber, a device having a valve seat, the said end of the cage being apertured to receive and engage said device, a valveand valve rod movably supported upon the cage and removable therewitlnand float-operated means constructed and arranged to actuate the valve rod.

2. In a steam trap, the combination with a casing comprising a main portion having an interiorly-projecting portion and a base, 7

the said projecting portion and base being constructed and arranged to form a chamber bet-ween them, the said chamber having discharge outlets and an open end, of a head constructed to close the open end of the chamber, a cage having a stem passing outwardly through said head, means acting upon the stem and constructed to clamp the said head upon the open end of said chamber, the inner wall of said chamber being apert-ured to receive the end of the cage, means constructed to removably secure the said end of the cage, the said cage being removable through said chamber, the said cage being provided with a valve seat, a inovably supported valve arranged to engage said seat, and float-operated means constructed and arranged to actuate the valve.

8. In a steam trap, the combination with a casing comprising a main portion and a removable portion having interiorly-projecting pocket bearings, said pocket bearings having openings presented toward the main portion of the casing, a shaft having ends supported in said bearings, the said main portion of the casing being constructed to obstruct the said openings of the pocket bearings and to retain said shaft therein, said casing having a valve seat, a valve movably supported and arranged to engage said seat, and float-ope 'ated means connected with said shaft and constructed and arranged to actuate said valve.

-'l-. The combination with a valve and valve operating devices, of a float movably connected with said devices and constructed to actuate them, a rod attached to said valve-oporating devices and having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion arranged to move above said Heat, and a weight adjustably secured upon the horizontal portion of the rod and arranged to be moved by the rod back and forth across a perpendicular passing through the float.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE N. GRAHAM.

lVitnesses:

W. W. Ilunnann, J12, Jacon FRIEDMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

